Solved how to configure windows 7 Pro to utilize maximum memory

[waynezo]

I recently upgraded my memory to 18 gigabytes. With chrome running about a half a dozen windows it will use about 6 gigabytes. since I have plenty of memory leftover is there a way to configure windows so it will use as much memory as possible perhaps even direct some of the memory to the video cards?

My Rig

Windows 7 Pro/Core i7 920
Asus P6T Deluxe V2/2 @ ATI Radeon HD 4770 Video Cards/12GB Crucial &
6GB OCZ Gold @ DDR3 1600/Intel X25-M 80GB SSD HD

 

[ignatzatsonic]

As I understand it, you want Windows to use "as much memory as possible", rather than whatever it wants.

Post a screen shot of the memory tab of Resource Monitor and the performance tab of Task Manager.

If you want to use more memory, you could always open more Chrome Windows. Or remove the unused memory, so that your RAM usage is closer to 100% of the available--up from about 33%.

 

[Layback Bear]

I found the best way to use your memory is let Windows 7 manage it.
Window 7 knows what to do with memory and when.
Tinkering with memory like we use to do in XP is not needed in Windows 7.

 

[comptech]

Hello waynezo,
Read this article from seven forum...
Hope it help you..
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66482-memory-set-maximum-amount-used-windows.html
Regards

 

[waynezo]

Yes I want to keep all the memory and have windows use it to perform faster. Since I'm not a gamer the amount of memory I have may be overkill, But I want to make sure windows is taking advantage of it. I would also like to allocate some to my video cards if possible (they are 5 years old and I'm running 4 monitors).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I want to make sure windows is taking advantage of it.

Is "taking advantage" a synonym for "using more"? If not, what does it mean?

Do you have any reason to believe that Windows is not using exactly as much as it needs and wants--satisfying its appetite?

 

[Layback Bear]

Post # 60 in this tutorial by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66482-memory-set-maximum-amount-used-windows-7.html

Nope. The Max Memory setting is used primarily for testing purposes only.

By default, it should remain unchecked to allow Windows to use all available memory.

 

[waynezo]

I don't want to "use more" for the sake of using more. I want increased performance. I don't know if Windows is or is not using all it needs. That is what I hope to find out.

 

[waynezo]

Post # 60 in this tutorial by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66482-memory-set-maximum-amount-used-windows-7.html

Nope. The Max Memory setting is used primarily for testing purposes only.

By default, it should remain unchecked to allow Windows to use all available memory.

Max Memory is unchecked

 

[Layback Bear]

From your post # 5



Paged, Non paged and processes are extremely high.

Example:
My system now.

Paged = 159
Non paged = 43
Processes = 45

 

[fireberd]

Memory doesn't really mean increased performance. It just means more is available for programs to use. Increased performance is faster CPU, faster motherboard (and busses), faster video card, etc.

 

[waynezo]

From your post # 5

View attachment 353187

Paged, Non paged and processes are extremely high.

Example:
My system now.

Paged = 159
Non paged = 43
Processes = 45

What does that mean?

 

[Layback Bear]

I will say it again.
In my opinion you, me or anybody else is not going to out smart Windows 7 when it comes to memory. Leave it at default and enjoy it.
I have more ram than I need at this time. Oh well. If Windows 7 wants or need to use more ram it will do so without me doing anything.

I had 32 gigs of ram on this system and now I down to 16 gigs installed.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

167 processes.

I've never seen anyone with more processes running.

How many of your running services are non-Microsoft?

You may have performance issues not directly related to RAM--I don't know since your complaints are about RAM usage, not performance.

 

[waynezo]

I will say it again.
In my opinion you, me or anybody else is not going to out smart Windows 7 when it comes to memory. Leave it at default and enjoy it.
I have more ram than I need at this time. Oh well. If Windows 7 wants or need to use more ram it will do so without me doing anything.

I had 32 gigs of ram on this system and now I down to 16 gigs installed.

Point taken

But what is going on with my "Paged, Non paged and processes"?

 

[waynezo]

167 processes.

I've never seen anyone with more processes running.

How many of your running services are non-Microsoft?

You may have performance issues not directly related to RAM--I don't know since your complaints are about RAM usage, not performance.

OS is snappy not having performance problems just always looking for more. Chrome was maxing out the 6GB Mem I used to have. adding the 12 GB solved that problem. I thought windows would grab more of the new memory.

 

[LMiller7]

There is a misconception here. The memory usage graph does not account for all memory usage. It was never intended that it would. If you look at the Resource Monitor memory tab you will see a substantial amount of memory shown as "Standby". This memory is very much in use as a kind of cache and contributes substantially to good performance. All memory except that labeled as "Free" is in use. If Standby memory was included in the graph many systems would show near 100% usage most of the time and that would be neither interesting nor useful.

But with 18 GB RAM you must face the fact that much of the time you will have substantial amounts of RAM that is Free and unused. With a relatively light workload there is simply no way that such large amounts of memory can be put to efficient use at all times.

Microsoft has devoted an enormous amount of effort to the system memory manager to make it use whatever memory resources are available to the fullest possible extent. Within reasonable limits adding memory will improve performance. But there will always be a point of diminishing returns beyond which more memory does little to nothing. With 18 GB I expect you are well past that point. With typical workloads that limit is roughly 8 GB on a 64 bit OS. Of course there are exceptions, such as when running virtual machines or when the workload is very high.

The suggestion in post #4 is not useful in such cases and will accomplish the exact opposite of what you want. The purpose of the option is to restrict memory availability for testing and diagnostic purposes. It will in no way force the OS to make more efficient use of memory.

If you post the screenshots suggested in post #2 it will be possible to more fully explain the situation.

Edit: After seeing the screenshots it appears that all but 1926 MB of RAM is actually in use. With 18 GB RAM I would consider this very good. Any attempt at manipulating this is unlikely to be productive and may well impair performance.

 

[waynezo]

There is a misconception here. The memory usage graph does not account for all memory usage. It was never intended that it would. If you look at the Resource Monitor memory tab you will see a substantial amount of memory shown as "Standby". This memory is very much in use as a kind of cache and contributes substantially to good performance. All memory except that labeled as "Free" is in use. If Standby memory was included in the graph many systems would show near 100% usage most of the time and that would be neither interesting nor useful.

But with 18 GB RAM you must face the fact that much of the time you will have substantial amounts of RAM that is Free and unused. With a relatively light workload there is simply no way that such large amounts of memory can be put to efficient use at all times.

Microsoft has devoted an enormous amount of effort to the system memory manager to make it use whatever memory resources are available to the fullest possible extent. Within reasonable limits adding memory will improve performance. But there will always be a point of diminishing returns beyond which more memory does little to nothing. With 18 GB I expect you are well past that point. With typical workloads that limit is roughly 8 GB on a 64 bit OS. Of course there are exceptions, such as when running virtual machines or when the workload is very high.

The suggestion in post #4 is not useful in such cases and will accomplish the exact opposite of what you want. The purpose of the option is to restrict memory availability for testing and diagnostic purposes. It will in no way force the OS to make more efficient use of memory.

If you post the screenshots suggested in post #2 it will be possible to more fully explain the situation.

Thank you for LMiller7 for the detailed explanation. I feel better knowing over 9GB is on standby. I did post screen shots on post #5. Perhaps I need to leave setting as they are. I'd rather have the extra memory in my Rig than sitting in a drawer

 

[waynezo]

There is a misconception here. The memory usage graph does not account for all memory usage. It was never intended that it would. If you look at the Resource Monitor memory tab you will see a substantial amount of memory shown as "Standby". This memory is very much in use as a kind of cache and contributes substantially to good performance. All memory except that labeled as "Free" is in use. If Standby memory was included in the graph many systems would show near 100% usage most of the time and that would be neither interesting nor useful.

But with 18 GB RAM you must face the fact that much of the time you will have substantial amounts of RAM that is Free and unused. With a relatively light workload there is simply no way that such large amounts of memory can be put to efficient use at all times.

Microsoft has devoted an enormous amount of effort to the system memory manager to make it use whatever memory resources are available to the fullest possible extent. Within reasonable limits adding memory will improve performance. But there will always be a point of diminishing returns beyond which more memory does little to nothing. With 18 GB I expect you are well past that point. With typical workloads that limit is roughly 8 GB on a 64 bit OS. Of course there are exceptions, such as when running virtual machines or when the workload is very high.

The suggestion in post #4 is not useful in such cases and will accomplish the exact opposite of what you want. The purpose of the option is to restrict memory availability for testing and diagnostic purposes. It will in no way force the OS to make more efficient use of memory.

If you post the screenshots suggested in post #2 it will be possible to more fully explain the situation.

Edit: After seeing the screenshots it appears that all but 1926 MB of RAM is actually in use. With 18 GB RAM I would consider this very good. Any attempt at manipulating this is unlikely to be productive and may well impair performance.

Sounds like good advice P.S. I ran Ubuntu and Win 10 virtual machines simoultaneously and used 90% of the memory "in use" so I guess I don't have any thing to complain about